MotorWind turbine has arrived...

[DamonHD]

Hi,

It arrived: http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2007/10/15/9633/5631

Naturally, today is forecast for (and achieving) zero wind speed!

Anyway, everything obvious seems to be intact (with one interesting broken-off bit of plastic floating around in the packing container)...

I'll do a write-up and post a link.

One of the first things I have to do is see what it generates in realistic wind speeds so I can work out if at this stage I should deploy GHurd's dump controller or simply go for the simpler crowbar option to start with...

Rgds

Damon

[gotwind2]

That was pretty quick Damon.

I am keen to see some more detailed images of this wind generator arrangement, alternator setup, as I'm sure you will provide in your write-up.

Have fun.

Ben.

[DamonHD]

Hi,

Yes, I'm going to at least attempt to assemble the frame today, with the help of my toddler providing 'management'!  B^>

Rgds

Damon

[Birdmmjb]

I have also been waiting for you to receive your package.

Please keep us informed on how well it does or does not work.

Jan

[DamonHD]

Hi,

I've started my write-up today at:

http://www.earth.org.uk/wind-power-pilot-autumn-2007-MotorWind.html

though it will probably be Wednesday before I finish assembly because it's now cold and dark out!

Rgds

Damon

[DamonHD]

I've put it up but not wired it in, partly because I have not yet rearranged things in my system to take a dump load/controller nor the bigger currents that this will likely provide, but I've seen over 20V open circuit so far.

I'm not happy with how securely it is mounted, and it's making a bit more noise than I expected (it rattles because of the meshing of adjacent rotors), but it is up and turning a significant amount of the time, more than my existing tiny turbines.

I may have to reduce the rattle significantly if possible to avoid annoying the neighbours.

Anyway, it's there!

So, I now have 10 small turbines in total, capable of generating some electricity!

Rgds

Damon

[DamonHD]

OK, I decided that the rattling was a bit too loud as-is, at least for the first day, so I've wired the MotorWind up.  When the MotorWind's voltage is high enough to start charging the battery then some of the excess energy now hopefully ends up stored rather than emitted as rattle.

I am getting bursts of charging (with gusts of wind) so far as I can see, and the MotorWind is turning more often than my tiny turbines, which is good.

In the absence of my dump load at the moment I'll have to keep an eye on the system and short the MotorWind manually if there's any danger of overcharging.

I have one of ghurd's kits waiting 2 inches away, but I have an alternative on its way to me for Monday that I also want to test.  In any case, Mr Hurd's kit of parts is giving me comfort in that if I need to do something before Monday, I can!

Power MOSFETs as tranquilisers...  B^>

Rgds

Damon